Oct. 15, 2025
Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County NewsCenter podcast. Coming up, learn about the county’s design and environmental achievement awards, the reopening of the Mount Vernon Rec Center pool, LEDs, an extension on filing personal property faxes, the Government Center Visioning Project, gas-powered lawn equipment and major upgrades at Wakefield Park. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Design & Environmental Achievement Awards Planning Committee invite you to join us as we honor the recipients of the Friends of Tree Awards, the Environmental Excellence Awards, and the James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards. The Friends of Trees Awards, Environmental Excellence Awards, and James M. Scott Exceptional Design Awards recognize outstanding efforts in tree conservation, environmental stewardship, and innovative, sustainable design that enhance the quality of life in Fairfax County. The awards ceremony will take place on Oct. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Government Center in the Board Auditorium with a reception to immediately follow in the Forum. Visit www.faifaxcounty.gov and search “Environmental Achievement Awards” for more information.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is excited to welcome the community to the much-anticipated reopening of Mount Vernon Rec Center pool. The swimming facilities now include a heated, indoor pool and beach entry equipped with two spray features. It also includes the addition of a wet classroom area that can be reserved for birthday parties or used for training and educational aquatics events, and a spectator area that can be used during events. The deep end of the pool includes a diving board and the Park Authority’s first aquatic climbing wall. The pool area also features a set of locker rooms, a poolside spa and a sauna. For more information, email FCPARecCenters@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Did you know replacing just five incandescent light bulbs with LEDs can save enough energy to pay for a nice dinner out every year! LED bulbs shine just as bright as incandescent bulbs, but they use 75% less energy and last 10 to 25 times longer. LEDs are also cheaper and last longer than incandescent and compact fluorescent lightbulbs, or CFLs. Visit Sustainfairfaxchallenge.fairfaxcounty.gov for more tips to save energy and money while staying cozy and comfortable.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, during a special meeting on Oct. 7, approved an extension for residents to pay their personal property tax, commonly known as car tax. The board acted in response to the ongoing federal shutdown. With the extended deadline, all residents have until Nov. 5 to pay their personal property tax without late fees or penalties. Residents can pay their car tax online, by using drop boxes, by phone or in person at the Fairfax County Government Center. For more information, contact the Department of Tax Administration at 703-222-8234, weekdays 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or by email at DTARCD@fairfaxcounty.gov.
We need your help in shaping the future of the Government Center campus as part of the Government Center Visioning Project, an update to the original 1987 master plan. Located in the heart of the Fairfax Center Area, the Government Center campus plays a key role in an area envisioned as a vibrant, mixed-use community where people can live, work and play. This update offers an opportunity to reimagine how the campus can provide efficient, equitable access to government services and community programs; demonstrate environmental leadership and sustainable design; and advance the goals outlined in the Countywide Strategic Plan. Our planning team will share some ideas for how the campus could repurpose its underused surface parking areas over the next decades and welcomes your feedback. Please send any comments to ffx-center-area-study@publicinput.com. Alternatively, you can call 703-324-1380 to speak with county planning staff.
Gas-powered lawn equipment — such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers and weed trimmers — impact our air, our health, and our environment. These machines use two-stroke engines which emit greenhouse gases and are dirtier than the engines in most cars and trucks. The good news is, there are alternatives to gas-powered equipment that are better for you and the environment. Electric versions of lawn equipment such as leaf blowers are generally more cost-effective and available in both battery-powered and plug-in versions. You can also choose natural lawn landscaping by “leaving the leaves” to decompose or gathering and composting your leaves to create rich topsoil. So, ditch the gas-powered equipment and join us in protecting the environment and improving community health. Visit fairfaxcounty.gov and search “electric power lawn equipment” to learn more.
The Fairfax County Park Authority has completed major upgrades at Wakefield Park, creating the county’s largest pickleball complex. The project added six new dedicated pickleball courts, bringing the total to eight and expanding recreation opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels. As part of the renovation, one tennis court was converted into four dedicated pickleball courts, while two dual-use courts were returned to tennis-only play. With these changes, Wakefield Park now offers a total of 18 courts and one practice area, including 10 tennis courts and eight pickleball courts. In addition to the court reconfiguration, the three basketball courts located behind the skate park were resurfaced and recoated to improve playability and safety. These improvements reflect FCPA’s ongoing commitment to meeting the growing community demand for pickleball and enhancing access to high-quality recreational facilities throughout Fairfax County. Wakefield Park is located at 8100 Braddock Road, Annandale. For more information, email Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Finally, subscribe to “Weekender,” the county’s weekend arts and entertainment e-newsletter. “Weekender” brings together offerings from around the county and delivers that info right to your inbox. Don’t miss out on fun happenings throughout the county. Subscribe to “Weekender” at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/weekender.
That’s all for this NewsCenter podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for news updates, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/news. Follow the NewsCenter podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. You can also listen 24/7 online to Fairfax County Government Radio at fairfaxcounty.gov/radio. If you have questions, call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov. The NewsCenter podcast is produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government.
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